Vascular Injuries in Children with Humeral Supracondylar Fractures

Abstract

Vascular and orthopedic surgeons encounter three scenarios with patient’s post-supracondylar fracture reduction and fixation. The first scenario is a patient who presents with a pulseless limb, in which the pulse returns post-fracture reduction and fixation. The second scenario is a patient who has a persistent absence of the pulse post-reduction and fixation; however, the hand is well perfused and warm. The third scenario is a patient who presents with a persistent absence of the pulse, and the hand is showing signs of acute ischemia such as coldness, duskiness and poor capillary refilling time.